Article vending machine



Jan. 19, 1965 J. J. HARDING 3,166,215

ARTICLE VENDING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l //6 I I r/a INVENTOR Jose 2k .Z/[ardz'rzy A TTOANEYS Jan. 19, 1965 J. J. HARDING 3,166,215

ARTICLE VENDING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 230 254 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,166,215 ARTEQLE VENDING MACHENE Joseph J. Harding, 3465 Monument Ave, Richmond, Va. Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,552 14 Claims. (#Ci. 221-439) This invention relates generally to article vending machines, and more particularly to an improved check-operated machine for vending magazines and the like, and which is constructed to permit physical handling and visual examination of an article before it is purchased.

The use of machines for vending individual articles has become quite common, and such vending machines are especially useful in transportation terminals, hotels, and like places, for use by a purchaser at night or when an attendant is not present. The need has existed, however, for a machine constructed to vend magazines and like articles. The purchaser of a magazine is often desirous of physically examining one or several magazines before deciding upon which to purchase, and therefore a magazine vending machine should permit both physically handling and visual examination of the magazines displayed thereon before they are purchased, and should at the same time insure that no magazine can be removed from the machine until the price has been paid therefor.

The vending device of the present invention is constructed to display a plurality of magazines in such a manner that a prospective purchaser may readily examine any one of them. When the purchaser has made a selection, the vending machine is operated in the usual manner by inserting a coin or other suitable check thereinto, which check permits the vending device to be operated for releasing the selected magazine.

The vending device of the invention is constructed to insure that a magazine or other article cannot be removed therefrom until the price therefor has been paid, while at the time permitting ready examination thereof. Thus, it is ideally suited for vending magazines and like articles which are normally examined by a prospective purchaser.

The machine of the invention is constructed in two embodiments, one being mechanical in operation and the other electrical. Both embodiments function in a similar manner, and both offer the advantage of permitting a purchaser to examine the articles being vended.

It is an object of this invention to provide an article vending machine constructed to permit a purchaser to examine an article before it is purchased.

Another object is to provide a check-operated vending machine for dispensing articles, so constructed as to retain the articles thereon until the proper check has been inserted into the machine.

Still another object is to provide an article vending machine which is simple and economical to construct, and which is relatively tamper-proof.

It is also an object to provide a mechanical, check-operated vending device for vending single articles, one at a time.

A further object is to provide an electrical, check-open ated vending device, wherein the operating switches may be positioned either near the articles to be vended or on a master control panel.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a single rail embodiment of the vending machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a multi-rail embodiment of the invention, adapted to vend articles having different prices;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3-3 3,lfi,2i5 Patented Jan. 19, 1965 in FIG. 1, showing the construction of the mechanical embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3, and shows in detail the operating lever of the embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view taken generally atS-S in FlG. 3, and shows the top of the check-operated mecha- IllSIn;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational viewof a second, electrically operated embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6, and shows the solenoid operated mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in 1FIG. 7, and shows the forward portion of the operating inks;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 7, further showing the construction of the operating links; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit of the embodiment of FIG. 6.

The vending machine of the invention is especially suitable for vending magazines, but may also be used to vend numerous other articles, For purposes of this description, however, the machine will be described primarily with reference to the vending of magazines and like printed materials.

The vending machine of the invention includes a generally horizontal rail having a plurality of spaced, arcuate arms secured along one side thereof, the lower ends of said arms bein spaced from said rail, A shaft is mounted within said rail in alignment with each of said arms, and is movable into and out of engagement with the lower end of its associated arm. An article to be dispensed has a bore formed therein, and is placed on one of said shafts between the rail and the lower end of the arm associated with said shaft.

The rail contains means for translating each of said shafts into and out of engagement with its associated arm. The translating means is check-operated, and according to the invention can assume either a mechanical or an electrical form. In either form, a check is inserted into the mechanism, after which it may be operated to translate one of the shafts to release an article mounted thereon. Means is also provided within the rail to insure that each of the shafts will be locked in position against accidental displacement.

Referring now to the drawings, the vending machine of the invention is indicated generally at 2 in FIG. 1, and includes a horizontal support base 4 having an upright standard 6 secured thereto at one end thereof, said standard being braced in a vertical position by a bar 8. Secured near the top of the standard to project horizontally therefrom is a rail 10, said rail being constructed to hold a plurality of magazines 12 in a vending position. Each of the magazines 12 is suspended so that it may be readily examined by a prospective purchaser.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 employs a single vending rail, but it is to be understood that a plurality of such rails could be assembled into a single vending machine.

Referring to FIG. 2, a multi-rail vending machine is indicated at 14, said machine including a pair of spaced, vertical supports 16 and 18 having a cross member 2!) secured thereto to extend between the top edges thereof, the mating corners of said members 16, 18 and 20 being mitered. The supports 16 and 18 terminate at their lower ends in base plates 22 and 24, respectively, and have a plurality of vertically spaced vending rails 26 extending therebetween. Each of the vending rails has a plurality of magazines 23 mounted thereon, all of said magazines being readily examinably by a prospective purchaser.

The multi-rail dispensing machine of FIG. 2 enables the display of a relatively large number of articles, wd also offers an additional advantage. Normally, checkoperated mechanisms are designed to accept only one type of coin, say'a quarter. Thus, if articles having different values are to be vended at various prices it normally is necessary to group the articles on different vending machines according to their price. The machine of FIG. 2 especially lends itself to vending articles of different values, in that each of the rails may be devoted to articles of one price. For example, the top rail might contain magazines selling for a quarter each, the second rail to magazines selling for a dime, and the third rail to magazines selling for a half dollar.

The rail 18 in FIG. 1 and the rails 26 in FIG. 2 are identical in construction and operation, and hence only the rail 10 will be described in detail.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the rail it includes a generally U-shaped channel member 36 and a cover plate 32, said cover plate having a longitudinally extending slot 34 therein for substantially its entire length, and being secured in position by a plurality of screws 36. Secured to one external vertical face of the U-shaped channel 39 are a plurality of spaced, arcuate arms 33, each arm including a vertical upper leg 49 which is welded or otherwise secured to the channel 3% near the top edge thereof. The arms 38 further each include a generally downwardly curved portion 42, the lower end thereof being spaced from the channel member 30. A block 44 is welded or otherwise secured to the inner face of the lower end of each arcuate portion 42, and has a bore 45 therein positioned to confront the channel member 39.

The arms 38 are spaced apart on the single member 30 a distance sufficient so that adjacent magazines suspended therefrom may be individually freely examined; typically, a spacing of 4 inches would be adequate.

The channel member 30 has pairs of aligned bores 48 and 50, one pair for each arm 38, extending completely through the vertical side walls thereof, each pair of said bores 48 and d being positioned to confront the bore 46 in its associated block 44. A pair of bushings 52 and 54 is fitted within each pair of bores 48 and 50, and functions to support a shaft 56.

The shafts 56 each include a cylindrical front portion 58 which extends through the bushing 54 toward the block 44, said portion 58 having a rounded tip 69 thereon of a size to be received with the bore 46. Further, each shaft 56 includes a rectangular central portion 62 and a cylindrical aft portion 64, the latter being receivable within the bushing 52. A washer 66 is secured to the shaft 56 at the juncture of the aft portion 64 and the central portion 62;, and a coiled spring 68 is disposed about the aft portion 64 between said washer and the wall of the channel member 30 within which the bore 48 is positioned. The spring 68 thus functions to urge the shaft toward the right, so that the tip 60 of the front portion 58 enters the bore 46 in the block 44.

The shaft 56 thus functions to support a magazine 12, said magazine having a bore or hole 70 punched there through in the upper bound corner thereof for reception of the front portion 58 of said shaft. The magazine 12 will be readily examinable while it is positioned on said shaft, but is secured against removal for as long as the tip 60 of the shaft is received with the bore 46 in the block 44.

The rectangular portion 62 of the shaft 56 has a rectangular notch 72 in the top thereof, and a triangular notch 74 in the bottom thereof disposed immediately below said notch '72. An L-shaped bracket 76 is secured by screws 78 to the bottom wall of the channel member 30, so that the front edge thereof lies behind the notch '74 when the shaft 55 is in its forward, engaged position. The bracket 76 includes a vertical arm St) at the rear edge thereof, said arm having a rectangular notch 82 therein of a size to receive the rectangular shaft por- 4 1 tion 62.. The notched vertical arm thus functions in cooperation with the rectangular configuration of the central portion of the shaft to prevent said shaft from rotating relative to the channel member 36.

A leaf spring 84 is secured at its rear end to the top surface of the horizontal leg 86 of the bracket '76 by screws 38, and the resilient tip 96 thereof is fabricated to normally extend upwardly at an inclined angle. The forward tip 9b of the leaf spring 84 has a length suflicient to engage in the triangular notch 74 when the forward tip 60 of the shaft 56 is disposed in the bore 46; when the tip of the leaf spring is so engaged the shaft 56 cannot be retracted, and hence the magazine 12 cannot then be removed.

The shafts 56 are operated in the deviceof FIG. 3 by a check-operated mechanism 92, said mechnaism 92 including a coin box 94 having a coin-receiving slot )6 (FIG. 1) in the front side thereof. The box 94 has a length slightly less than the width of the slot 34 and extends therethrough; a bottom plate 98 is secured to the bottom of the coin box 94, and has a length slightly less than the internal width of the channel member 30. A pair of angle irons 100 and 192 are secured to the sides of the coin box immediately above the cover plate 32, and function to secure the coin box to said cover plate for sliding motion in the slot 34. The mechanism 92 includes an operating lever mechanism 104, said mechanism being constructed to release the leaf spring 84 and to move the shaft 56 for dispensing the magazine 12.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the plate 98 has a slot 1% therein extending transversely of the channel member 30, and a guide 108 is mounted for translational movement within said slot. The guide 108 includes an inverted T-shaped member 119, the center leg of which extends through and has a width slightly less than the slot 166. A top plate 112 is secured to the T-shaped member 119 by screws 114, and functions to secure the guide 168 in position. The guide 108 has a vertical bore 116 extending therethrough, within which is received an operating shaft 118.

The shaft 118 terminates at its upper end in a knob 12%), and has a transverse pin 122 extending therethrough a short distance above the guide 108. A washer 124 is disposed between said pin and said guide, and a partially compressed coiled spring 126 is positioned between said washer and the top plate 112 of said guide. The spring 126 thus functions to urge the shaft 118 upwardly away from the transverse shaft 56.

The lower end of the shaft 118 has an inverted U- shaped member 130 secured thereto, said member 130 including a bottom plate 132 having a width greater than that of the rectangular shaft portion 62. A pair of side plates 134 are welded to the bottom plate 132 to extend downwardly therefrom on either side of the shaft 56, and have a vertical height greater than that of the rectangular shaft portion 62. The bottom plate 132 has a bore 136 therein through which the lower tip 138 of the shaft 118 projects, and the U-shaped member 13% is welded to said shaft above said lower tip.

The shaft 118 operates in the following manner. When the shaft is depressed, the bottom edges of the side plates 1.34 will engage and depress the tip 90 of the spring 84, thus disengaging said tip from the triangular notch 74. The shaft 56 is then free for translational movement. The shaft 118 is then translated to the left in the slot 106, the tip 138 engaging in the notch 72 to cause a corresponding translational movement of the shaft 56. After the tip 6% of the shaft 56 clears the bore 46 in the block 44, the magazine 12 may be removed. After the magazine has been removed, the knob on the shaft 118 is released and said shaft is caused to move upwardly by the coil spring 126. When the tip 138 has disengaged from the notch 72 the spring 68 will cause the shaft 56 to return to its initial position, wherein the tip of the leaf spring 84 will again become engaged within the triangular notch tends between said two anchor members, and is secured thereto to urge the guide'1tl3 toward the right.

The check-operated box 94 may be of any suitable commercially available type, which will lock the shaft 118 against motion except when the proper check has been inserted thereinto. It should be noted that while perhaps ideally the shaft 118 should be locked against both horizontal and vertical movement, this is not absolutely necessary. The shaft 11% need only be prevented from vertical movement by the mechanism of the coin box, in which case the spring 34 cannot be depressed to release the shaft 56. in this instance, horizontal movement of the shaft 118 will have no effect, until said shaft has been depressed to release the tip of the leaf spring 84.

The mechanism 92 is slidable along the length of the rail it into alignment with any one of the arcuate arms 38. To insure proper alignment of the coin box with an arm from which it is desired to release a magazine, indicating arrows 146 and 143 may be provided on the cover plate 32 and on one of the angle irons 1%, respec; tively, as is shown in FIG. 5. Such arrows will insure that the U-shaped member 130 will be properly posi tioned to engage the leaf spring 84, and that the shaft tip E38 will be received within the notch '72.

The mechanism of FIGS. 15 is substantially tamperproof, and is relatively economical to manufacture. The slot 34 in the cover plate 32 may, however, provide sufficient access to permit a thief to operate one of the shafts 56. This may be prevented, if desired, by the use of a suitable sliding closure on the rail member.

A suitable closure device might consist of a pair of tensioned rollers within the rail at the opposite ends thereof, and two strips of flexible material. One end of each strip of flexible material would be secured to one of the rollers, and the other end thereof would be secured to the mechanism 92. Thus, translation of the mechanism 92 would pay off one of the flexible strips from its roller, while the other strip would be taken up by its associated roller. While the use of such closure structure may be desirable, it is not considered essential to the invention, and hence is not illustrated herein.

The mechanical vending machine of FIGS. 1-5 is ideally suited for use in locations where electrical power is not readily available, or where the use of an electrically operated machine is considered undesirable. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6-10, however, which utilizes electrical solenoids to actuate the magazine supporting shafts.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a vertical standard is shown, having a rail 152 extending horizontally therefrom. It is to be understood that a plurality of such rails 152. might be employed, and that they might be arranged on a raclt such as is shown in FIG. 2. The rail 152 includes a U-shaped channel member 154 and a cover plate 156, said cover plate being secured in position by screws 158 (FIG. 7). The channel member 154 has a plurality of spaced, arcuate arms 160 secured thereto, which arms are identical in construction and purpose to the arcuate arms 38 of FIGS. 1 5. The arms 16% each terminate at their lower ends in a block 162, having a bore 164 therein, which bore is positioned to confront one vertical wall of the channel member 154.

The channel member 154 has a bore 166 in the side wall thereof in alignment with each of the arms 160, each of said bores 166 being positioned to confront its associated bore 164 and having a bushing 163 fitted therein. A shaft 170 extends through each bushing 168, and includes a large aft portion 172 and a relatively small front portion 174, said front portion terminating in a rounded tip 176. A shoulder 173 is defined between the two shaft portions 172 and 174, and functions as a safety stop to insure that the shaft 170 will not be displaced from within the channel member 154.

An electric solenoid is secured by screws 182 to the wall of the channel member opposite each of the bores 166, the longitudinal axis of each said solenoid being spaced vertically above and parallel to the central axis of its associated bore 166. The solenoids 184 each include a core shaft 186, each of said shafts having a washer 188 secured thereto. A coil spring 194 is positioned about each shaft 186 between the washer 188 thereon and its associated solenoid coil, and functions to urge the core shaft away from the solenoid coils when the latter are de-energized. The forward tips of the core shafts 1S5 overlap the aft ends of the shafts 17$, for a purpose hereinafter described.

A block 192 is secured to the bot-tom wall of the channel member 154 immediately below each or" the shafts 170, and is spaced from the aft end thereof. Each block 192 has a rectangular groove 194 in the top surface thereof, the aft edge of said block behind said groove being tapered at 196.

A pair of L-shaped links are secured to the aft end of the shaft 17% by a transverse pin 209, one of said links being positioned on each side of said shaft. Each link includes a vertical arm 20?. having an elongated slot 294 therein, said slots being positioned to confront the diametrically opposite sides of the forward end of the core shaft 136. A transverse pin is contained within a trans verse bore in the front end of said core shaft 136, and extends outwardly through the slots 204, said pin functioning to operably secure the links 198 to said shaft.

The links 198 also include horizontally extending arms 2%, each of which terminates at its forward edge in a downwardly directed tip 2.10, said tips having tapered forward edges 212 thereon. A horizontal stop bar 214 is welded to the top of the shaft 170 immediately above the tips 219, said stop bar extending outwardly to overlap said horizontal arms. The horizontal arms 2&3 have a vertical height in the region of said tip 210 such that when the vertical arms 29?. are moved rearwardly the horizontal arms will engage with the bottom surface of the stop bar 214 just after the downwardly directed tips 210 clear the groove 194.

A switch 216 is mounted on the cover plate 1.56 in the vicinity of each solenoid 155i and is connected to said solenoid by a pair of terminals 218. When power is supplied to the switch and it is closed to establish electrical transmission to the solenoid 180, the solenoid will function in the following manner to release a magazine 2213 from the shaft 170.

Immediately upon energization of the solenoid, the core shaft 1% will be drawn toward the left into the solenoid coils. This will cause the links 198 to pivot rearwardly about the pin 2% to the position indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 7, whereby the tips 2ft) will be lifted clear of the rectangular groove 1%, and the top, forward edge of the horizontal arms 238 will engage with the stop bar 214. The solenoid core shaft will then continue its left-ward motion, such further motion causing the shaft 176 to translate to the left sufficiently far to release the magazine 22%.

When the switch 216 is opened to tie-energ ze the solenoid 183, the spring 190 will cause the core shaft to shift toward the right. Such shifting movement Will first cause the links 198 to pivot forwardly about the pin 2%, such pivotal movement being limited by a stop bar 222 welded to the bottom of the shaft 170 just forwardly of the pin 2%. Further forward movement of shaft 186 will then translate shaft 170 to the right. As the tips 21%? approach the block 192, the tapered edges 212 thereof will slide upwardly on the tapered block surface 1% until said tips are engaged within the rectangular groove 194; the shaft 170 will then again be secured in position against translational movement.

One of the switches 216 is associated with each of the arcuate arms 160, and all of the switches are controlled in their operation by a check-operated mechanism 224 mounted on the free end of the rail 152. The mechanism 224 has a coin slot in the top thereof, and is constructed to complete an electrical circuit to the switches 2116 upon deposit of the correct coin, or check, thereinto.

The circuit of the invention is illustrated in schematic form in FIG. 10, wherein is shown a coin box 226 having a pair of power leads 228 extending therefrom to a power source 230. A pair of leads 232 and 234 are connected to the coin box, and the switches 216 and the solenoids 180 are connected in parallel between said leads. The switches 216 may be of any suitable type, such as the common spring-biased, pushbutton operated type. An indicator light 238 is connected across the coin box in such a manner as to become lit when the proper coin has been inserted thereinto.

The coin box 226 may be of any suitable commercially available type, and includes suitable switch mechanisms so that the leads 232 and 234 will become energized when a suitable coin has been inserted thereinto. The coin box indicator light 233 will light when the leads 232 and 234 are energized, and immediately after one of the switches 216 has been closed the coin box 225 is constructed to return to its initial state and the light 238 will be extinguished. The solenoids 184 are then in their de-energized state, and may not be again actuated until another check has been inserted into the coin box.

The circuit of FIG. includes no means to prevent simultaneous operation of more than one of the switches 216. However, it is contemplated that the device of FIGS. 6-10 may be constructed to prohibit simultaneous actuation of more than one of the switches 216, whereby to insure that only one article will be dispensed for each check inserted into the coin box 226.

There are numerous known mechanical interlocking devices, any one of which will permit the actuation of only one pushbutton switch in a series of such switches. Any one of these devices might be incorporated into the present invention. However, the inclusion of such a lockout mechanism is not considered essential to the present invention, and accordingly none is illustrated or described herein.

The switches 216 are shown to be positioned on the plate 156 in FIG. 6, adjacent to their associated arms 160. It is to be understood, however, that alternatively the switches might all be gathered into a master control panel without departing from the teachings of the invention.

From the above description, it is evident that a vending machine has been provided which is economical to manufacture, relatively uncomplicated in structure, and which will permit the vending of various articles. While the vending machine has been described primarily with reference to magazines, it is to be understood that it might also be used to vend other articles. For example, the machine is ideally suited to vend bagged, pre-packaged merchandise such as toys, candy and the like. The vending machine of the invention permits a purchaser to freely examine goods prior to buying the same, while at the same time being relatively tamper-proof.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A device for vending articles, each of said articles having a bore therethrough, comprising: a rail, said rail having at least one transverse bore therein; an arm, one end of said arm being secured to said rail, and the other end thereof being spaced from said rail and positioned to confront said transverse bore; a shaft received for translation within said transverse bore, and movable into and out of engagement with said other end of said arm, said shaft being receivable through said bores in said articles; means at least partially Within said rail, and operable to translate said shaft both into and out of engagement with said arm; and check-operated means arranged and operable to secure said shaft translating means against and release it for operation thereof.

2. A vending device as recited in claim 1, including additionally: means within said rail for releasably securing said shaft in a position wherein it is in engagement with said other end of said arm, said releasable securing means being operable to release said shaft by said means operable to translate said shaft.

3. A vending device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means operable to translate said shaft includes: an element carried by said rail and movable toward and away from said shaft; and interengageable means on said element and on said shaft operable by said element when engaged thereby to translate said shaft, said interengageable means being engageable when said element is moved toward said shaft, and being disengaged when said element is moved away from said shaft.

4. A vending device as recited in claim 3, wherein said check-operated means is operable to secure said element against and release it for movement toward said shaft.

5. A vending device as recited in claim 1, wherein said means operable to translate said shaft includes: a solenoid mounted within said rail, and including a movable core member; means connecting said core member with said shaft; and resilient means arranged to urge said shaft into engagement with said arm.

6. A device for selectively vending articles, each of said articles having a bore therethrough, comprising: a base; at least one rail supported on said base, said rail having a plurality of spaced, transverse bores therein; a plurality of arms, one for each of said transverse bores, one end of each arm being secured to said rail, and the other end thereof being spaced from said rail and positioned to confront its associated transverse bore; a shaft received for translation within each of said transverse bores and movable into and out of engagement with its associated arm, said shafts being receivable through said bores in said articles; means within said rail for releasably securing each of said shafts in a position wherein it is in engagement with its associated arm; means at least partially within said rail operable to release the releasable securing means associated with any selected one of said shafs, and to translate said one selected shaft out of engagement with its associated arm; and a single, check-operated means arranged and operable to secure said shaft translating means against and release it for operation thereof.

7. A vending device as recited in claim 6, wherein said check-operated means is slidably mounted on said rail for translational movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, and is movable into vertical alignment with any selected one of said shafts; and wherein said means operable to release and translate said shafts includes: an element carried by said check-operated means, and movable between a first position wherein the lower end thereof is spaced from said shafts and a second position wherein said lower end is disposed adjacent a shaft with which said check-operated means is vertically aligned; and interengageable means on said lower end and on each of said shafts operable by said element when engaged to translate said shafts, said interengageable means being engaged only when said lower end is in said second position.

8. A vending device as recited in claim 7, wherein said interengageable means includes: a tip on the lower end of said element, said shaft having a notch therein disposed to receive said tip when said shaft is in engagement with said arm; and wherein said element is translatable parallel to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

9. A vending device as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for releasably securing said shaft comprises: a resilient detent means mounted within said rail below each of said shafts and engageable therewith, each shaft having a notch therein disposed to receive said detent means when said shaft is in engagement with its associated arm; and wherein said element additionally includes: a member secured to the lower end thereof, said member being engageable with the detent means associated with each shaft when the lower end of said element is in said second position, whereby to disengage said detent means from its associated notch.

10. A vending machine as recited in claim 7, including additionally resilient means mounted between each of said shafts and said rail to urge said shafts into engagement with their associated arms.

11. A vending machine as recited in claim 6, wherein said means operable to release and translate said shafts includes: a plurality of solenoids mounted within said rail, one of said solenoids being associated with each shaft, and each solenoid including a movable core member; means connecting the core member of each solenoid with its associated shaft, said connecting means being operable upon energization of its associated solenoid to first release said means releasably securing its associated shaft,

and to then translate said shaft in a direction away from its associated arm; and a control circuit for said solenoids, comprising: a power source; first conductor means connecting said check-operated means with said power source; second conductor means connecting said check-operated means with said solenoids, and including a switch means for each solenoid; and switch means within said checkoperated means arranged to selectively connect said first conductor means with said second conductor means.

12. A vending machine as recited in claim 11, including additional means to resiliently urge each of said shafts into engagement with its associated arm.

13. A vending machine as recited in claim 6 wherein said base includes: means for supporting a plurality of rails in spaced relationship to each other.

14. -A vending machine as recited in claim 6, wherein additional said other ends of said arms each have a bore therein for'receiving the ends of their associated shafts.

788,738 10/35 France. 851,100 10/60 GreatBritain.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR VENDING ARTICLES, EACH OF SAID ARTICLES HAVING A BORE THERETHROUGH, COMPRISING: A RAIL, AND RAIL HAVING AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSE BORE THEREIN; AN ARM, ONE END OF SAID ARM BEING SECURED TO SAID RAIL, AND THE OTHER END THEREOF BEING SPACED FROM SAID RAIL AND POSITIONED TO CONFRONT SAID TRANSVERSE BORE; A SHAFT RECEIVED FOR TRANSLOCATION WITHIN SAID TRANSVERSE BORE, AND MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OTHER END OF SAID ARM, SAID SHAFT BEING RECEIVABLE THROUGH SAID BORES IN SAID ARTICLES MEANS AT LEAST PARTIALLY WITHIN SAID RAIL, AND OPERABLE TO TRANSLATE SAID SHAFT BOTH INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ARM; AND CHECK-OPERATED MEANS ARRANGED AND OPERABLE TO SECURE SAID SHAFT TRANSLATING MEANS AGAINST AND RELEASE IT FOR OPERATION THEREOF. 